Riding the "X" Box

Went to Makati to audtition for a radio ad (they wanted someone who could do an "authentic Chinese accent," whatever that is). Afterwards I had a preztel and Moroccan Mint latte courtesy of CB&TL, where I ran into my old classmate Marge. Ok, got all the inconsequential events outta the way.

I haven't taken the MRT for quite some time, w/c is why I noticed the price change and the small watchtower at the bottom of the stairway (where the trains stopped) occupied by a single guard. As always I stood in line for the first 2 boxes 'cause they were closest to the tollway at the QC station. When the train slowed down enough for me to see the passengers clearly I noticed a something else: most-- if not all-- the passengers were women.

Just then I remembered some city ordinance/policy/bullcrap rule about having male and female passengers (save for senior citizens and/or those w/ kids in tow) ride in the separate boxcars, w/ women taking the "upper" half and men the "lower" half. Okay, that explains the guard on the watchtower, I thought. Do I move? Wait, there's an old guy sitting in the first boxcar, sooo... I guess it's alright. Ah, what the hell. I got in the second boxcar; and nobody stopped me or called my attention. No Schindler's List-like flashbacks so far.

I looked around. There was a lady in army fatigues standing by the door. Fellow passenger or guarding against would-be lesbo pervs? I felt like Yorrick in Y: The Last Man. Some passengers that were seated occasionally looked up at me, probably thinking three things: 1)Nothing 2)Must be a plainclothes security guy, or 3)That's a woman?

With every stop we made I half-expected someone to ask me to move to another boxcar, w/c didn't happen. I kinda like it here. No pushing and shoving nor any oily finger, palm or face prints on the windows. Then again it wasn't rush hour yet. At the Cubao station at least 2 more guys hopped on the same boxcar I was in. Nobody screaming sexual harrassment yet.

In the end it was an uneventful ride, just the way MRT management wants it.

Point to Tuldok

Got a text message from Rachelle T. informing me that Tuldok Animation (local indie animation company of my old award-winning client Ramon del Prado) was holding auditions for voice talents. Now, my original plan was to audition, then watch a movie w/ Louella, but she and her bro already made plans to go buy PC parts. So after lunch I drove straight to Makati, instead.

The audition was at an badly lit, "abandoned" multi-purpose hall, where you could entice an amateur filmmaker to shoot a horror flick here. Rache arrived about an hour after I did, but my name wasn't called yet so we chatted the time away. I finally managed to give her her long-delayed Xmas gift (solitary season of The Lone Gunmen). The planned 15min projected is being run by fellow VO guy Pocholo Gonzales, who once again invited me to join him in another organization specializing in VO work. Since I didn't get any work from the last "invite" I'm not exactly holding my breath.

They called me in. Seems I'm "affectionately" known around the very small VO-animation circle as "Mr. Worm" (in reference to the earthworm character I played in Ramon's short cartoon Egg. Beats "Mr. Crab," I guess.) Several voices later I'm done. Rache followed soon afterwards.

I don't really need the job, but I still want it, all-Tagalog project or no. Been outta the game way too long.

Yappy Birthday

Birthday greetings out to my former high-school classmate/phonepal, plays-it-straight professionally party-planner/emcee who-now-has-his-own-freakin'-watch friend Timothy Brian Hao Yap.

In case you were wondering, this picture was taken 16 years ago in the men's room of a classy hotel. Yes, it is as weird as it sounds.

* * *

I started this blog as an online diary of sorts. Two years ago I made an entry about the stuff I won't talk about.

Which is why I created a new blog.

Sometimes I just hafta rant.

Goodbye, Di

I bid farewell, adieu, auf weidersein, sayonara, and chuvah to friend Diana, who departed Friday, flying to the haughty hills and haunts of Hong Kong.

Sexy Night

Early this week I was batting zero when it came to conversing w/ the ladyfriends. All my life I noticed the pattern always came in 3's, as in when the first 2 girls I call are busy, I should expect likewise from the third. Naturally logic rejects superstition and I make the call anyway, only to have the former notion confirm the latter.

Well tonight it all evened out. Chatted on the phone w/ one, got texted by another, and chatted online w/ a third, who also sent a very flattering (ironic term at the moment) picture of herself.

To quote Ashton Kutcher (shudder): Soo-WEE-tah.

NO, I'm not sharing the picture. ;)

Now and Away

Five days w/o Internet access. Felt like several lifetimes for me. At least I caught up on my reading. Now there's a huge backlog of season 6 of 24 to deal with.

Visited my first Protestant church over the weekend. Old Beijing friend/distant relative Carlos was getting hitched and I was again the designated driver to the 'rents. One thing that confirmed that United Evangelical was Pro was the absence of any images of Jesus (just like JT said), even on the crucifix. The mass was shorter w/ the lack of Readings, Offertory or Communion. Just the priest yakking away. Sure didn't feel shorter, as I still managed to doze off for a bit.

Couldn't escape driving duties for the wedding reception, so I tried to make an evening for myself while the folks dined at Century Seafood Restaurant ("For all your Tsinoy wedding reception needs!"). Contacted JT, who luckily was free. We had dinner at nearby Aristocrat, where I found that boneless chicken breast can be just as filling as their original 3-piece chicken BBQ. She offered I hang out at her place while waiting them the 'rents to call, but alas, Ma texted early to say dessert was almost done, so after dropping her off I had to hightail it back to Century.

The 12 Thoughts of New Year

1. It probably would've made more sense to write The Twelve Thoughts of Xmas, but I wanted a fresh start to 2007.
2. I really, REALLY should get more involved in the family business. It's been almost 2 years since my return, but my lack of added knowledge in the daily operations is exceeding embarrassing levels. Apologies to Ma.
   
3. Just watched the uncensored Saddam Hussein execution video. Now I'm only 50% sure they didn't fake his death.
   
4. Made new friends, lost some others (no, they're still alive). To the former: I've glad to know you, and thank you for making me smile. To the latter: your almost-schizophrenic tendencies, lack of trust and passive dickishness bewilders me, all the more so since you won't talk about why. I won't wish you ill-will, but hope you stay alone.
5. Why is my metabolism such that I can get fatter but not heavier? Why not the other way around?
6. Bitey sent me a Xmas greeting via email. Considering the current status of our relationship, either this means I'm in some group mailing list, or it's evidence of this person's f*#ked up sensa humor.
7. Warren Ellis once wrote: It's a strange world. Let's keep it that way. Granted, though Ellis comics characters fight monsters, doppelgangers, alien creatures the size of the moon and use teleportation as a viable method of transportation, I'd like to think the universe I live in has it's fair share of strange things to see, albeit in a tamer fashion. I hope to start a new blog entitled Weird Sight of the Day. Hopefully to be accompanied by photos/sketches
8. Photoshop skills further improving. Yay. Not getting paid for it. Boo.
   
9. Things I want this year: Choco-flavored whey protein, new set of earphones, new home gym equipment, DVD sets of Arrested Development, seasons 1-5 of Futurama and seasons 5-9 of The Simpsons, hair, love, and world peace. In that order.
10. We did the Xmas and New Year's Eve dinners, w/ a bigger spread on the latter since it's also my sis-in-law's b-day. Almost suffered from chocolate overload, as opposed to past olfactory sense overload from inhaling too much gunpowder smoke from the firecrackers.
11. Ugh, in six months I'll be an over 30-year-old man living "alone w/ his parents."
12. Well, at least I'll have the room all to myself again.

Weekend Stuff

At this rate, I may go The Way of the Rad and do weekend updates. Anyhoo...

FRIDAY: Put up w/ my first scheduled 12-hour power interruption. Escaped it for a while by picking up desk fans at Dianne's Western Appliances warehouse, then going to the gym, but had to get home early, with 4 hours to go 'til the power was supposed to come back on. Slept off most of that, thankfully.

SATURDAY: Spent the afternoon hanging out at SM MOA w/ Beijinoy friend Jan Tiu. We had Sbarro's, made account inquiries at BDO (UITF stuff) and looked for her KrisKringle gift (still deciding between card reader and wrist/ankle weights). If it wasn't for the b-day for A-Kim at Talayan Village we would've stayed to watch the whole concert of the San Miguel Orchestra. After dropper her home and enduring the traffic jam I got to Achi Abeth's house late, but the line to the buffet was just under way, w/c makes me just in time. :)

SUNDAY: Internet connection was crap (single digit dl speed!), so I was surprised to find that it's now at triple digits. Finished season 1 of Sleeper Cell, but now have too many movies to finish.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Funeral Home...

Actually, the funny thing happened at the funeral home itself. A few of went to the nearby PAZ to pay our respects to my cousin's cousin's father, who died from liver cancer complications. Thankfully the son (old friend of mine) was not the only familiar face in the crowd. His batchmates from high school were there, and his sister who came home from Ohio, and I considered most of them to be my friends.

As with most Chinoy wakes the mood was mostly lively and chatty. I admit I didn't even look at the body, and just spent my visit chatting away with friends, and found myself catching up w/ people I never even thought of in a long time. It was like a small SCJS Homecoming party.

One of them asked me to help hook him up with someone from my high-school batch. So, to any interested female Ad-Extremians out there: DAM, mid-30s, 1 child (joint custody) and w/ a steady job in Silicon Valley. Outgoing, sporty, Protestant, liberal Republican (iffy) and says the woman must be willing to move to San Francisco, California. Don't worry, he'll handle your immigration papers. Quite the catch, he is....

Boy, the things I do for fellow Judenites.

Typhooey

The storm named (internationally) Typhoon Durian wrecked havoc in Region 5 but thankfully missed Metro Manila. The anticipated Milenyo-like rains and winds never came, but instead died out in the middle of the night. There's still a bit of drizzling and a "slight" breeze, but as NCR residents would attest rain always posed a bigger problem than wind. Dust, dirt or leaves blowing into your face is preferable to streets flooded with polluted water.

It's almost a waste how much preparation the cities went through in anticpation for the typhoon. Billboard ads were taken down. People moved to large basketball courts. We stocked up on water and charged cellphones, emergency lamps and MP3 players (okay, the last one's just me). In the end it was just a big disaster coordination drill rehearsal, where everyone does everything right and no-one dies. Bit dull, actually.

Today's an offical holiday, and classes were called off yesterday, so this makes for a looong weekend. Literally a silver lining to the dark (storm) cloud.